The Torquay hotel which was the inspiration for Basil Fawlty, has relaunched today, following an extensive refurbishment.

Hotel Gleneagles is being remarketed as a boutique-style property following the revamp of its 41 en-suite bedrooms, large conservatory and outdoor heated swimming pool.

Ceilings have been raised, mirrors and Italian chandeliers installed, furniture imported from Holland and new carpets laid.

VisitBritain has rated the hotel as a three-star quality property, under its new common standards, with criteria devised in association with the AA and the national tourist boards of Wales and Scotland.

The former owner of Hotel Gleneagles in Torquay – the late Donald Sinclair – was John Cleese’s inspiration for the character of Basil Fawlty and was described by him as “the most wonderfully rude man I’ve ever met”.

During the early seventies, John Cleese and the Monty Python team briefly stayed at the hotel while filming, and Sinclair is said to have thrown Eric Idle’s briefcase out of the window, claiming that it was a bomb. The team were disturbed enough to eventually move to a different hotel. Details: www.hotel-gleneagles.com